Dean Smith: Tough tests are perfect Wembley warm-ups

The Saddlers host third-placed MK tomorrow, before welcoming the Blades to the Banks's on Tuesday.

Smith thinks both games represent the kind of challenge his team will relish as they look to turn around their dreadful recent home form.

And he believes it represents ideal build-up ahead of the much anticipated Johnstone's Paint Trophy final with Bristol City on Sunday week.

"These are the games I want to be honest," he said. "MK Dons are an established team who are up in the top six every season. It will be a really good game for us.

"And then Sheffield United who are a big club in this league, again in the top six.

"It just leads us nicely into Bristol City. The three games that we've got coming up are really good games for anybody who is a footballer and wants to be involved.

"These are the type of games you don't need to get up for, you know it's going to be a good atmosphere and a good game to play in."

The Saddlers have won just one of the last eight games in front of their own fans.

Smith admits some of the issues at the Banks's may be psychological and has urged his players to stay patient and keep their heads.

"We feel that we prepare well for every game, I think it's just the mental side of things," he said. "Be patient, is what we say to the players. Sometimes, you can go and win the game in the 89th minute.

"If it's 0-0 after 70 minutes, remain patient, keep doing the basics well.

"What you don't want to do is give the opposition a leg-up and unfortunately we've done that a few times.

"Even if you go a goal down, don't go chasing the game straight away. It's about us being patient as players.

"What we've been built on, certainly in the first part of the season at home was that we never conceded many goals.

"And if you don't concede many goals, you've got chances to win football games. That's been a big problem I believe over the last two months – we've conceded too many goals at home."